Where the tours and activities segment shines

The tours and activities segment has always had a home at The Phocuswright Conference. Even before our 2011 landmark study on the in-destination activities market, The Phocuswright Conference featured the leading companies, technologies and executives from the segment.

Attendees that represent the biggest companies in online travel – as well as the most nimble and innovative upstarts – come poised to network and join the in-depth, strategic discussions moderated by unbiased and expert analysts and executives.

Integral players in the tours and activities segment, as well as the global travel industry, rely on Phocuswright to cement their position and give them the competitive edge they need to future-proof their businesses.

The biggest platforms and innovators in tours and activities:

All in one place. This is where the most successful and influential companies and leaders in the segment interact to create new partnerships, exchange ideas and understand what competitors are doing.

The tours and activities segment is the darling of the travel VC investment community. Case in point: Earlier this year, in rapid succession, SoftBank Vision Fund pumped record-breaking sums into Klook and GetYourGuide. We sit down with the leaders of these two competitors to find out what’s in store for the experiences segment overall, and whether the most recent funding round by SoftBank could fuel cooperation, or increase valuations that lead to a merger or a public offering — or both.

Executive Interview: TripAdvisor
Steve Kaufer, CEO, TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor forever changed hotel and destination selection when it elevated user-generated content to required pre-trip reading for millions of leisure travelers. In its 20 years of existence, the company has acquired platforms for tours and activities bookings, restaurant reservations, vacation home rentals, and more. The company's founder and CEO joins us for an in-depth chat on where TripAdvisor is headed next.

Disruptive technology is the holy grail of the travel industry, but where is true innovation to be found? Acclaimed tech journalist Kara Swisher has interviewed hundreds of tech execs, politicians, celebrities, social activists, and other high-profile movers and shakers intent on changing the world. She examines the contours, impact and future of innovation.

The leader of Booking Holdings has set his sights on integrating the company’s expanding portfolio of brands to facilitate a complete end-to-end “experience” platform. Get the inside scoop on Glenn Fogel’s vision for the future of the tech giant, and its prospects for creating a frictionless platform that seamlessly covers every stage in the funnel from inspiration to payment.

Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to innovation and quick adaptation. Can a company with more than 20 brands selling across a growing swath of travel products and services successfully leverage its platforms and talent base to achieve excellence at everything simultaneously? Can it deliver a connected and seamless consumer experience — and beat its main rival to the punch? Two years after taking the reins, we talk with Expedia's CEO about the tech and marketplace trends capturing his attention, and his plans to maintain the company's position as the leader in global travel sales.

Executive Interview: KAYAK
Steve Hafner, Co-Founder and CEO, KAYAK

Hear from KAYAK’s CEO on the trajectory of meta, the future of OTA-meta relationships, and how key players and emerging upstarts are shaping the model. And that’s just his thoughts on metasearch; this online travel veteran also shares perspectives on the wider worlds of tech and online travel.

Some have said that Chamath Palihapitiya, CEO of Social Capital, will "change your opinion on everything," often in a style that is both controversial and provocative but also brilliant. Also recently appointment chairman of Richard Branson's space age venture Virgin Galactic, Chamath takes the stage with Brad Gerstner, founder and CEO of Altimeter Capital, in this exclusive one-on-one session.

Innovation Summit and Launch
Phocuswright is travel's
stage for innovation. The companies represent the most innovative in two categories – Innovation Summit (young companies) and Launch (established companies). The program is packed with market-changing innovations presented in a fast-paced, no-holds-barred environment.

Breakout sessions that advance the industry.This is where the industry transforms theory into practice. During breakouts, attendees receive educational content from industry leaders in an intimate, interactive environment to discover, learn and hone skills.

Travel EQ: Bridging the Gap between High-Tech & High-Touch Presented by American Express
With more people traveling and overwhelming options available, travelers are looking for help to create personalized experiences. Learn best practices to be a trusted advisor and drive customer loyalty.

Get Ready for 5G to Transform Travel and Hospitality Presented by Luxoft
5G is set to transform travel and tourism. Virtual reality, robots, AI and IoT-enabled venues will provide the ultimate in luxury experiences to all guests. Learn how to get ready for 5G!

Multi-Channel Marketing in a World of Walled Gardens Presented by Sojern
In this session, travel marketers learn innovative strategies to better manage multi-channel digital marketing campaigns across walled gardens like Google, Facebook and Apple.

How to Win at Travel Marketing in the Age of Google and Expedia Presented by Tinyclues
As industry giants invest heavily in marketing and advertising, many travel and hospitality brands struggle to get share of voice. Outsmart the competition with your most valuable asset: your customers.

Visual Inspiration for the Experience of a Lifetime Presented by Pinterest
Join Pinterest to uncover the power of visual search in every step of the travel journey. Learn how to craft visual content that inspires people to build their ultimate travel experiences.

In addition to the unprecedented networking opportunities, tours and activities executives should expect:

Executives from every major online travel company

Potential investors and partners

The latest innovations impacting the traveler lifecycle

Research presentations and sessions geared toward the evolving travel and distribution market, regions like India and Europe, plus the state of digital travel

The leading intermediaries and business partners distributing travel products

Valuable sessions on how the broader digital travel market impacts the traveler lifecycle

Tours and activities-related attending companies:

Airbnb

Arival

Bokun

Entertainment Benefits Group

GetYourGuide

Leisure Pass Group

Peek

Questo

Servantrip

Shore Excursions Group

Traveling Spoon

Tiqets

ToursByLocals Inc.

Tripadvisor

Walks

Withlocals

In addition to your industry peers, the most influential companies directly impacting your distribution are fully engaged at the Phocuswright Conference. Partners from travel agencies, OTAs, TMCs, metasearch, search and GDSs are joined by technology disruptors, innovators and upstarts focused on the airline industry.